Rumour: Microsoft to Launch Windows 8 on January 7, 2013.

Possible release dates of Microsoft Corp.'s next-generation Windows 8 release dates have transpired for a number of times since the launch of Windows 7, whereas executives of the software giant made comments that neither confirmed nor denied rumours about earlier-than-expected or later-than-expected release time-frames for Windows 8. The most recent rumours put the next-gen OS into the year 2013.

Wzor.net, a well-known web-site specialized on leaking various builds of software by Microsoft reported recently that the company is about to finish its milestone 2 (M2) iteration of Windows 8 development and the third (M3) phase will start in March, 2011. After the M3 is finished, Microsoft is expected to release public Beta-1 and Beta-2, then unveil a release candidate (RC) and after that assemble the final version sometimes in late 2012. The software giant reportedly plans to release the operating system in retail in early 2013.

The Dutch subsidiary of Microsoft posted a note back on October, 2010, which read that the world's largest software maker was working on Windows 8, but that the new operating system was not to be released for about two years. This was by far not the first time when Microsoft itself or its alleged employees revealed launch timeframe of Windows 8. Back in late 2009 it transpired that Microsoft planned to release Windows 8 in 2012 and information that emerged in early 2010 claimed that the new operating system was due in mid-2011.

One of the key features of Windows 8 will be very fast boot time or even instant-on feature. In addition, Microsoft plans to implement various performance optimizations in order to make the operating system (OS) more responsive. Considering that more and more computers now integrate web cameras, Windows 8 is projected feature facial recognition technology. Also, the next-gen OS will likely leverage usage of Bluetooth 3.0, USB 3.0 and other high-speed interfaces.

Microsoft will target four PC form-factors – desktop, laptop, all-in-one desktop and slate. It can be expected that Windows 8 graphics user interface will either be customizable or will be generally very flexible to satisfy completely different users. Given that tablets are already getting popular, it may be crucial for Microsoft to release Windows 8 rather sooner than later.

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Although i find Vista very useable, Im surprised that would be your choice if you think microsoft "wrecks" with each new one.

Early 2013 seems farther off then i would have expected since they did RC1, RC2, and Final for both Vista and Win7 in around 9 months. So unless they are planning on taking 1.25 years to finish M3 I cant see how they wouldnt at least be able to get it out before christmas 2012.

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Windows 7 has been such a big hit that there isn't a reason for Microsoft to hurry and release another OS like they did with Windows 7. So it makes sense to move back the release date of Windows 8 to 2013, especially when a lot of Windows XP users that refused to upgrade to Windows Vista are just now starting to upgrade to Windows 7.

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Windows 7 is a great OS. I've had fewer problems with 7 than I did with the much loved XP until SP2 came out. I'm in no hurry to upgrade, but Microsoft seems like they're on the right track lately. Windows 8 should see a nice feature set enhancement. I personally would like to see more native support for SSDs in 8 including TRIM in RAID environments.